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Date: Tue, 05 Mar 2002 00:01:33
From: "Jimbeau Harp"
Subject: Re: Don't badmouth the players (Rant Warning!)

>From: Philhar~ol.com
>
>The average civilian, knowing nothing beyond that fact that the harmonica
>is small and that you can hold it in >your hand, sees ONLY the entertainer.
>

Sad but true.

I'll bet that most accomplished players here will probably have had this
experience:

AVERAGE CIVILIAN: Say, you play that harmonica really good! (sic)

ACCOMPLISHED PLAYER: Thanks.

AVERAGE CIVILIAN: Gee, you sound just like (insert name of your favorite
bad harmonica player here).

>In all likelihood, the next, greatest harmonica player >of actual ability
>-- who can read and write music and play like ringing a bell -- is the one
>inspired by someone like this megahit female entertainer.
>
>Most people don't consider Bob Dylan the greatest harp player ever, but he
>sure inspired some (law of averages says so).
>

Dylan's harmonica playing is a thousand times more melodic than
Morrisette's. To use a metaphor: if Dylan's harmonica playing is represented
by his beard, than Morrisette's playing isn't even a pimple on the ass of a
flea that might get caught in Dylan's beard.

I gotta agree with the original poster on this: she's simply awful when it
comes to harmonica. Basically all she does is breathe loudly through it.

If she were a small child doing this, she'd be cute for about 10 seconds,
then you'd experience the overwhelming desire to snatch that harmonica out
of her mouth and toss it as far as you could, preferably to where it could
then be run over by a tractor trailer.

>The more times a harmonica appears on a national broadcast, the more
>chances someone with the real talent will pick it because it looks "so easy
>to play"
>and "it looks so cool to play."

It's just as likely that she turns off as many people with the complete lack
of any musical ability she demonstrates on the instrument. Only the most
tone-deaf person could be inspired by her performance to want to play harp.

Perhaps a better question is: do we WANT people who might be inspired by
Alanis's "skills" to play harmonica?? Seems to me we'd be better off
steering them to (insert name of your favorite despised instrument here).

Phil, normally I agree that the more exposure the better for harmonica, but
it's pathetic we're reduced to this.

Why can't we have GOOD players represent the harmonica on national TV?
Because, in my opinion, people will tolerate BAD harmonica playing. Most
people wouldn't abide to this level of performance if it were done on violin
or sax. They'd be rushing the doors to get out!!

It's time to start educating people in general to expect more from the
harmonica than this crap.

Jimbeau

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